[07/01/08 - 01:03 PM]USA Takes #1 with Best 2q EverUSA spins the numbers for the second quarter of 2008.

[via press release from USA]

USA TAKES #1 WITH BEST 2Q EVER

USA TAKES #1 WITH BEST 2Q EVER

Win makes it Eight Straight for USA

NEW YORK � July 1, 2008 � In a remarkably competitive 2Q08 marked by NBA playoffs and high-profile cable originals, USA was the #1 cable network in 2Q08, delivering more P25-54 (1.27 million), P18-49 (1.25 million), total viewers (2.73 million) and households (2.04 million) than any other network in basic cable prime. This marks the eighth consecutive win for the network among ad-supported entertainment networks for P25-54, P18-49, total viewers, and households. This was also the most watched 2nd Quarter in USA's history, delivering more P25-54, P18-49, total viewers, and households than ever before.

USA delivered broadcast-level numbers in 2Q08, delivering more P18-49 and P25-54 than the CW. The network also grew year-to-year, drawing +8% more P25-54 than in 2Q07, +5% P18-49, +6% total viewers and +6% households.

USA was home to half of the top ten series in basic cable prime in 2Q08, including the top four, with original hours of IN PLAIN SIGHT, WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW, and LAW & ORDER; CRIMINAL INTENT and cable's top acquired series HOUSE and NCIS.

� USA's newest show, IN PLAIN SIGHT, was the top original drama in 2Q08, drawing nearly 3 million in P25-54 to its series premiere and averaging 2.45 million in P25-54 and over 5 million total viewers in 2Q08, more than any other series. The series premiere of IN PLAIN SIGHT beat recent competitive launches including Lifetime's "Army Wives" (by +61% in P18-49 and +76% in P25-54), TNT's "Saving Grace" (by +27% in P18-49 and +11% in P25-54), FX's "Damages" (by +99% in P18-49 and +78% in P25-54), AMC's "Breaking Bad" (by +196% in P18-49 and +232% in P25-54), TNT's "Heartland" (by +108% in P18-49 and +72% in P25-54), AMC's "Mad Men" (by +362% in P18-49 and +268% in P25-54), and FX's "Dirt" (by +3% P18-49 and +30% P25-54).

� Most of the quarter's telecasts of WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW placed in the top 50, representing more of these top spots than any other show and reaffirming its status as the #1 weekly series on cable.

� New original episodes of LAW & ORDER; CRIMINAL INTENT returned to USA in 2Q08, placing two telecasts among the quarter's most watched including the June 22 episode, which drew more P25-54 and total viewers than any prior USA original episode of the series.

� With over 3 million in P25-54, 2.9 million in P18-49 and 5.6 million total viewers, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK on USA Saturday 5/10 was the #1 movie of the quarter (#2 telecast overall) as well as the second most watched theatrical movie on basic cable prime since 2001 (only USA's PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL in July of 2006 delivered more P25-54 viewers during this period).

*Note: all weekly daypart and program data is Live+SD.

USA NETWORK is cable television's leading provider of original series and feature movies, sports and entertainment events, off-net television shows, and blockbuster theatrical films. The #1 network in basic cable, USA Network is seen in nearly 94 million U.S. homes. The USA Network Web site is located at www.usanetwork.com. Characters Welcome.

USA Network is a program service of NBC Universal Cable a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.